‘Night Out’ hits the spot with communities across mid and south-west Wales
The Arts Council of Wales’ ‘Night Out’ scheme has been a great success in rural communities across mid and south west Wales during the 2017-18 according to an evaluation of the scheme undertaken recently.
The county of Caerphilly has benefited most from this pioneering scheme which assists local promoters – such as village halls, chapels, churches or pubs – to stage quality professional entertainment in the communities in which they live; arts events like drama, concerts, dance and comedy. During the past year Caerphilly has seen 35 events being staged thanks to the help of the ‘Night Out’ scheme with Monmouthshire close behind with 22 performances and Newport, Cardiff, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent also putting on a good number of performances.
The scheme provides a guarantee against loss from promoters, even if the number attending aren’t enough to cover the cost of staging the event.
Making reference to the scheme, one promoter in Porth, Rhondda – Miranda Ballin, Artistic Director of Sparc, Valleys Kids:
“So good to bring professional companies to small venues. Night Out enables communities to see quality theatre in their own community at an affordable price. This is one of the jewels in the crown of the Arts Council of Wales.”
Peter Gregory, Head of the Arts Council Wales Night Out scheme, said:
“Across the whole of Wales during 2017-18, the scheme funded 511 performances in communities across Wales, and these were arranged by 319 groups in 349 locations thanks to the help of 3225 individual volunteers.
“It is wonderful that this scheme continues to go from strength to strength and does so much, with so little investment, to support the cultural life of Wales’ more rural, remote or deprived communities.”
